Quartet to Vie for Vox Populi

The Vox Populi trophy

Online voting is now open for the seventh annual Secretariat Vox Populi award, which recognizes the racehorse whose “popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.” The award was created by Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat.

Four nominees were selected by the Vox Populi committee. Voters have the option of a write-in horse of their choice. The four nominees are:

Beholder (Henny Hughes), the three-time champion and 11-time Grade I winner who recently entered retirement at her owner B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm;

California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), the 2014 Horse of the Year and this year's G1 Dubai World Cup hero and a prior Vox Populi winner. Most recently a game second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the 5-year-old now has earnings in excess of $14 million;

Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro), the TDN Rising Star and reigning champion 2-year-old filly who surrendered her undefeated record in a thrilling renewal at the hands of Beholder in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff;

Tepin (Bernstein), the 2015 Eclipse Award-winning turf female who broke new ground when winning the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot this past June and was a gallant runner-up in defense of her GI Breeders' Cup Mile title Nov. 5

“Thoroughbred racing enjoyed a variety of many thrilling and notable story lines during 2016,” Mrs. Chenery said. “The committee considered many contenders for this year's award, but our four named nominees outdistanced all the others. They are beloved for their individual contributions to the sport, and each is a captivating standout as we look back at the year.”

Voting ends Dec. 16. Click here to cast a vote. A public presentation for the winner will take place in mid-January at Santa Anita.

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